In this second, fully revised edition of his acclaimed study of Barker’s work, Charles Lamb sets out to make emotional sense of the characters and their interactions. This is a detailed exploration of the ‘scene of seduction’ – the challenge, the secret, the abject and the catastrophic, processes which dominate Barker’s work. For Lamb, the power of Barker’s plays is to be found in the exposure to the irrational and its promotion of a state of unknowing. This revised edition includes: * a new interview with Barker;* a revised introduction, * an updated bibliography * a full production chronology. For students of Barker and for actors and directors working with this unique material, Lamb’s book is a vital and illuminating text.